"Thus, without controversy, prejudice
was broken down, the exclusiveness estab-
lished by the custom of ages was aban-
doned, and the way was opened for the
gospel to be proclaimed to the Gentiles."—
The Acts of the Apostles,
pages 141, 142.
8.
How did Paul rebuke Peter for
his later disaffection? Gal. 2:11-14.
NoTE.—"Dissembled.
Literally, 'acted un-
der a mask with [Peter],' that is, acted
the part of hypocrites. Peter and these
`other Jews' knew they were not doing
right, but compromised themselves in or-
der to avoid trouble with the Judaizers.
They acted as they did in order to conceal
their true sentiments from those who had
come from Jerusalem. They pretended to
side with the Judaizing brethren. If Paul's
charge of insincerity was true—and there is
no reason to doubt that it was—Peter did
well to remain silent, as he seems to have
done."—The
Seventh-day Adventist Bible
Commentary,
on Gal. 2:13.
"The manner of Gentiles.
It had taken
a miracle to convince Peter that Gentiles
should be admitted to Christian fellowship
on an equality with the Jews. . . Since
that experience he had evidently felt free
to associate with Gentiles, contrary to
Jewish custom. His apparent silence, when
rebuked, implies that he recognized the
error of his hasty move and the seriousness
of its implications for the future of the
church as a universal, united body. This
much may be conceded in Peter's favor."
—Ibid.,
on Gal. 2:14.
9.
Through whom did the Holy
Spirit work to inaugurate the first
Christian missionary movement? Acts
11:25, 26; 13:1-3.
NoTE.—"The different connections and
activities of the men mentioned here indi-
cate that the church at Antioch enjoyed a
cosmopolitan leadership. Barnabas was a
Cypriote; Lucius, a Cyrenian; Manaen,
apparently a Palestinian aristocrat; and
Saul, a rabbi from Tarsus in Cilicia."—
The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Com-
mentary,
on Acts 13:1.
"The Christian church was at this time
entering upon an important era. The work
of proclaiming the gospel message among
the Gentiles was now to be prosecuted
with vigor; and as a result the church was
to be strengthened by a great ingathering
of souls. The apostles who had been ap-
pointed to lead out-in this work would be
exposed to suspicion, prejudice, and jeal-
ousy. Their teachings concerning the break-
ing down of 'the middle wall of partition'
(Ephesians 2:14) that had so long sepa-
rated the Jewish and the Gentile world,
would naturally subject them to the charge
of heresy, and their authority as ministers
of the gospel would be questioned by
many zealous, believing Jews. God foresaw
the difficulties that His servants would be
called to meet, and, in order that their
work should be above challenge, He in-
structed the church by revelation to set
them apart publicly to the work of the
ministry. Their ordination was a public
recognition of their divine appointment to
bear to the Gentiles the glad tidings of
the gospel."—The
Acts of the Apostles,
page 161.
The All-Inclusiveness of the
Gospel Message
10.
How is the Christian's obliga-
tion to all races of men set forth in the
Scriptures? Matt. 28:19, 20; 24:14;
Rev. 14:6-12.
11.
How is the brotherhood of man
taught in the Lord's Prayer? Matt.
6:9, 10.
NoTE.—"In calling God our Father, we
recognize all His children as our brethren.
We are all a part of the great web of
humanity, all members of one family. . . .
As children of God, you will hold His
honor, His character, His family, His work,
as the objects of your highest interest. It
will be your joy to recognize and honor
your relation to your Father and to every
member of His family. You will rejoice to
do any act, however humble, that will
tend to His glory or to the well-being of
your
kindred."—Thoughts From the Mount
of Blessing,
1956 ed., pp. 105, 106.
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